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Tens of thousands rallied against the government on Sunday

One demonstrator who gave her name as Snezana told Reuters: "We're here to defend our country. It's time we stand up against this dark foreign scenario."

The opposition Social Democrats accuse the government of wiretapping 20,000 people, including politicians, journalists and religious leaders.

Their leader Zoran Zaev says scores of leaked recordings reveal corruption at the highest levels of government, including the mismanagement of funds, dubious criminal prosecutions of opponents and even cover-ups of killings.